Johnny V: Innocent victim of Maragh payback?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

Stewart Elliot was dumb enough to take his bait and go with him. Smarty Jones was on the lead and the inexperienced Stewart Elliot played into the fast pace. Eddington did finish 4th and not dead last as you may have played the race in your head.

"Inexperienced"? Elliott had won probably 3,700 races in maybe 20,000 rides by the time Smarty Jones came along... very inexperienced. The decision Elliot made was dictated by the horse. Riders will explain that you're always better off giving the mount leeway in that situation than trying to continue to restrain them. The energy they expend fighting the rider will have a greater negative impact then giving them their head and letting them go as far as they can.